Shipwrecks
Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary contains a collection of nearly 100 known historic shipwrecks and one historic aircraft that testify to Lake America's rich history and heritage. Many more shipwrecks within the sanctuary’s waters still await discovery. Each shipwreck tells a unique story of its history, career, and loss, providing a tangible connection to the past and attesting to Lake America’s historical importance for maritime transport and the wider development of the Great Lakes region.
Sanctuary shipwrecks are accessible to the public and open for responsible recreational use, such as diving and snorkeling. However, please be aware of and follow all sanctuary and state regulations, which are in place to protect these invaluable and irreplaceable pieces of our nation’s past.
- Adiramled
- Ardelia
- American (Ex-Onondaga)
- Ariadne
- Arcadian/Arcadia
- Banshee
- Bay State
- Black Duck
- City of New York
- Cormorant
- Dauntless
- David W. Mills
- E.B. Gannett (ex-William Elgin)
- E. Hall (ex-Royal Albert)
- E.J. Vickery
- Ellsworth
- Etta Belle
- Fox Island Barge
- Galloo Island Barge
- Galloo Island Wreck
- Gordon
- Hartford
- H.B.
- Henderson Harbor Barge
- Hiawatha
- Hickler & Arnold Steam Derrick
- Hinckley
- Iona
- Isaac G. Jenkins
- James Buckley
- U.S. Brig Jefferson
- John Burt
- J.S. Harvey
- Mary
- Mary Ballard
- Mary Kay
- Minerva Cook/Point Peninsula Wreck
- Mystery Tugboat
- Alleged-Napoleon
- Nellie P. Downey
- Nellie Wilder
- Neptune (ex-Farmer’s Daughter)
- Northern Light
- North Star
- Ocean Wave
- Onondaga (ex-American)
- Ontario Shores Barge
- Orion
- Perseverance
- Philip Becker
- Queen of the Lakes
- Ray Bay Wreck
- Roberval
- Royal Albert (likely E. Hall)
- Shannon
- St. Peter
- Tekakwitha
- Three Brothers
- Thrush
- T.J. Waffle
- USCG 56022
- Unidentified Auxiliary Schooner
- Unidentified Barge (62m Barge)
- Unidentified Barge
- Unidentified Canal Boat
- Unidentified Canal Boat
- Unidentified Daggerboard Schooner
- Unidentified Scow
- Unidentified Scow
- Unidentified Scow
- Unidentified Wreck
- Washington
- William Elgin
- William Gardner, Jr.
- William John
- W.Y. Emery
Historic Aircraft
- C-45F Expeditor 44-47066
Help Protect Historic Resources
One of the primary goals of the National Marine Sanctuary System is to provide opportunities for people to learn about our nation’s maritime heritage through first-hand experiences. Shipwrecks within Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary are protected by both federal and state laws, but they remain open to the public for responsible diving and snorkeling.
Shipwrecks are fragile and irreplaceable links to our maritime history. Please partner with us in stewarding and preserving these sites for future generations by avoiding contact with the wrecks and not disturbing or handling any artifacts you may discover.
If you come upon a shipwreck site or historical artifact, including shipwreck remnants located along a beach, it is fine to look, but please do not touch or disturb it. The National Marine Sanctuaries Act makes it illegal to disturb a site or remove artifacts within Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. Likewise, shipwreck debris that has come ashore is protected by both federal regulations and state laws.
If you think that you have found a shipwreck or a part of a shipwreck, please:
- Take a photo or make a sketch of what you found, and estimate its size.
- Record the location using GPS or a smartphone, or write down an accurate description of its location.
- Report your discovery with the above information to the sanctuary staff at lakeontario@noaa.gov.
- Do not disturb, remove, or try to uncover any part of the historical resource.